Colossal Biosciences, recognized as the world's de-extinction company, has announced its acquisition of Viagen Pets and Equine, a leader in animal cloning. This strategic move allows Viagen to continue providing genetic preservation and cloning services for pets, equine, and endangered species while operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Colossal. The company plans to expand its cloning platform to include more threatened species and regions globally.This acquisition is Colossal’s first since the launch of the company in 2021 and follows the successful establishment of two companies, Breaking and Form Bio. “ Colossal is thrilled to welcome Viagen, the world’s leading cloning company, into our portfolio,” said Ben Lamm, Founder and CEO of Colossal.

“No other company comes close to what Viagen has achieved. Their unmatched expertise and cloning technology stack have become the world’s standard and their application of these critical and proprietary technologies to endangered species conservation makes them an invaluable partner in advancing our global de-extinction and species preservation mission.” Viagen, founded in Austin, Texas in 2002, has transformed from a livestock and genetic preservation company into a global leader in animal reproduction and preservation services. The company has achieved significant milestones, including exclusive licensing of technologies from the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, known for cloning Dolly the sheep. President Blake Russell expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “Joining forces with Colossal — the only de-extinction company and leader in biotechnology — gives Viagen the scale, resources, and shared vision to expand what we can do. Together, we can accelerate breakthroughs in genetic preservation, animal health, and endangered species recovery through biobanking and cloning at a scale that simply wasn’t possible on our own.”

Viagen has successfully cloned 15 species, achieving world-firsts with the black-footed ferret and Przewalski’s horse, while the Grevy’s zebra is currently in gestation. They have optimized cloning protocols that achieve success rates nearing 80%, significantly higher than the average of 2%. The company has also bio-banked over 40 unique species, including 22 that are threatened or endangered, reinforcing its status as the premier animal cloning organization.In addition to cloning, Viagen has pioneered cryopreservation techniques that preserve biological samples by freezing them at low temperatures, halting metabolic activity and degradation. This technology is key for biobanking, ensuring the quality of stored samples.

Matt James, Chief Animal Officer and Executive Director of the Colossal Foundation, remarked, “ At Colossal we believe cryopreservation and cloning are essential tools to preserve, revive and restore biodiversity. Viagen’s proprietary technology will fuel Colossal’s de-extinction efforts and allow us to restore more endangered species populations as well as preserve their genetic diversity in Colossal’s Bio Vaults." Dr. Shawn Walker, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Viagen, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Partnering with Colossal Biosciences presents an extraordinary opportunity to apply our advanced cryopreservation and cloning techniques to the ambitious goals of de-extinction and species restoration. Colossal’s innovative approach aligns with our mission to preserve genetic diversity and support conservation efforts globally. We are excited to see how this collaboration can advance science globally.” Viagen has also made strides in advanced reproductive technologies for horses, introducing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) services. This technique allows breeders to select the sex of foals and underscores Viagen's leadership in equine breeding science. Viagen and its team will maintain their Texas headquarters while integrating into Colossal’s technology platform.